The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-03-03
AN INTERVIEW WITH DICKENS.
Tho Advice the Great Author Gave an
A,mhitinns Young Na1rsnaper Renorter.

Tho Advice the Great Author Gave an
Ambitious Young Newspaper Reporter.
In musty little dressing room just of
the stage Of ST. James, hall, in Buffalo,
Charles Dickens gave an ambitious young
newspaper reporter his first lesson in in
terviewing That was more than twenty
years ago and during Mr.. Dickens last
visit to this country. Tho great novelist
gave two public readings in Buffalo, and
on the day after his first reading In that
city he went to Niagara Falls with a
party of friends. 1t was to obtain his
''impressions'' Of the falls that the am
bilious young reporter sought Mr.. Dick
ems few minutes before the raising Of the
curtain on his second nights entertain
ment. AS luck would have it the dis
tinguished author was alone in the dress
ing room. He was sitting at rude pine
table reading q newspaper by the light OF
suffering candle.
''What is it, young man?" he said,
somewhat gruff1y, as soon as he became
aware of the reporters presence.
"I am q reporter for The Buffalo Ex-
press.n said the intruder, with forced
calmneSS.
eyes, yesl well, what is it?' exclaimed
Mr.. Dickens, in a tone so freezing that
the reporter shivered and instinctively
turned toward the door in expectation OF
an admonition to sect out"
"Well, what do you want?" repeated
the great Boz.
1Wh-wh-what do you think of Niagara
Fallss'' stammered the reporter.
ssNonc of your ~ began the famous
novelist with rising asperity.
II beg your pardon, excuse me; l
thought nervously INTERCEPTED the re-
porter, as he edged toward the door.
"1vait n moment. Come herer' MIR.
Dickens demeanor and tone had changed
completely. The reporter looked up in
surprise. The expression of annoyance IN
the face Of tho novelist had given way 10
one of amused interest. $50 you were
sent to interview me, werc youF' said ne
pleasantly. "NWcll, I hope you will eX-
cusc my candor in saying that your paper
could not have sent person less likely to
succeed, oven if were willing to be inter-
viewed, which I am not. My young
friend let me give you q word of advice.
When you want to interview man don't
act as IL you were afraid Of him, and don't
throw net at him as though you were
seeking fish in invisible depths. NO
man whose opinions are worth publishing
will respond to q wholesale invitation to
unbosom himself. Don't ask weak or
frivolous questions! You must have an
intelligent plan Of campaign when you go
interviewing. First of all you must know
just what you want to say and your
questions must be sufficiently incisive to
awaken the interest OF tho person to
whom they are addressed Once you get
O man interested in a subject it will re-
quire only little ingenuity to keep him
talking. After what have seen to-day l
cannot help feeling IN interest in Niagara
Falls, but If you will excuse me for saying
so, you lack the ingenuity to set me talk
ing on the subject. I.wish you well, how
ever. Good night"
Mr.. Dickens impressions" OF niagara
Falls were not printed in any Buffalo
newspaper the next day, but his pithy re-
marks on the subject of interviewing were
printed on the tablets Of that young re-
porter's memory-in red ink, as it were
New York Times.